Minimal drug interaction found between Livalo, HIV drugs

By Alaric DeArment

INDIANAPOLIS — A statin made by Eli Lilly and Kowa Pharmaceuticals America appears to work well with drugs used to treat HIV, according to a study presented at the sixth International AIDS Society conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Rome.

The study was designed to investigate potential interactions between Livalo (pitavastatin) and Abbott’s antiretroviral protease inhibitor Kaletra (lopinavir and ritonavir). The study found that each drug had only a minimal effect on the other.

“HIV is a chronic illness today, as opposed to 30 years ago, and patients with HIV are faced with additional challenges concerning dyslipidemia, accentuated by both the disease process, as well as antiretroviral therapies,” Kowa Pharmaceuticals America VP medical affairs Craig Sponseller said. “Additionally, these patients are frequently on multiple medications, and the management of dyslipidemia can be even more of a challenge.”